The accuser and the accused

March 20, 1992

The editorial "Sexual Abuse of Power," March 9, mentions that more victims of sexual abuse must be ready to step forward. In the author's words, "society and the law - while protecting the rights of accused men - must make it less fearsome and costly for female victims to speak up."

It takes a lot of courage for women to confront such a menacing problem. But let's remember that the blue dot in the William Smith and Mike Tyson trials was over the faces of the alleged victims, and not the accused. The system is fairly well equipped to protect the accusers, while the real lack of protection is with the accused, the "innocent until proven guilty." Jason Romrell, Rexburg, Idaho